Domestic appliance



Feb. 5, 1957 c. A. STICKEL DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1953 INVENTOR.

Carl A. Sf/c/re/ His Attorney Feb. 5, 1957 c. A. STICKEL DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1953 INVENTOR. Carl A. Sl/c/re/ His Attorney Feb. 5, 1957 c. A. STICKEL DOMESTIC APPLIANCE I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1955 Fig. 3

INVENTOR.

Car/ Y A. Sf/c/re/ His Attorney of the invention illustrated in the drawings.

in the form of sheets or woven cloth.

United States Patent DOMESTICAPPLIANCE Carl A. Stickel, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 25, 1953, Serial No. 382,291

3 Claims. (or. 34-46) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to laundry dryers.

More lint than has heretofore been realized is deposited upon the clothes in ordinary washing. This lint is removed from the clothes in the tumbling action in automatic dryers and is not only carried by the air circulating system to the collecting means but some air-borne lint is also desposited in other parts of the interior where there is no convenient means of removal and where it becomes a minor fire hazard.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dryer with a simple inexpensive means for removing the air-borne lint from the air in the dryer and depositing the lint in a removable collecting container.

it is another object of my invention tolprovide a dryer with electrostatic means for attracting and removing airborne :lint from the air in the dryer and for depositing the lint collected by the electrostatic means in a suitable removable container.

These and other objects are attained in the three forms in the first form two friction wheels are rotated by contact with the drum. Connected to the axis of the friction wheels and extending between them is the twisted wire stem of a cylindrical-shaped member formed like a wire stem brush with bristles of Orion or Mylar or polystyrene or other suitable material capable of creating through friction with a suitable cooperating material an electrostatic charge. A charging rod of glass or rosin forms the cooperating material and is located in the path of rotation of the bristles so that as the brush-type member is rotated, the tips of the bristles are rubbed across the rod so that they become charged with an electrostatic charge. Since this brush-type member rotates within the drum chamber, the electrostatic charges on the bristles attract the air-borne lint within the drum chamber. The lint thus collects upon the bristles and is combed otf by a horizontal stationary metal comb into a removable collecting container.

In the second form an endless belt extending over rubber rollers is made up of Orion or Mylar" or polystyrene it is provided with raised portions of a different electrical insulating material which are kept in contact with the dryer drum so that the belt is constantly moved by the drum. The belt is charged by the friction of portions of glass rod or rosin. The belt moves within the drum chamber and the electrostatic charges upon the belt attract the air-borne lint and carry the lint to a place where a stationary metal brush sweeps the lint off of the belt as it removes the electrostatic charge. A removable container is located below the metal brush to receive the lint falling from the belt.

In the third form of the invention it is essential that the dryer drum is coated with porcelain or other vitreous material. Within the drum chamber on opposite sides of the out-let to the drum chamber there are provided removable collecting containers. Also provided are stationary brushes of Orion, Mylar" or polystyrene which ice have their bristles in engagement with the periphery of the porcelain coated dryer drum. These brushes will provide a small electrostatic charge on the outer surface of the porcelain coated drum which will attract the airborne lint from the air in the drum chamber. The brushes will sweep this lint off of the drum at such a location that the lint will fall into the removable collecting containers.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

in the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, partly diagrammatic, through a domestic laundry dryer embodying one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly diagrammatic, through a'domestic laundry dryer illustrating a second form of my invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly diagrammatic, through a domestic laundry dryer illustrating a third form of my invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 there is shown a cabinet 20 of a laundry dryer containing a drum chamber 22 surrounded by an insulated wall 24. Within the drum chamber 22 is a rotatable drum 26 which may be rotated by an electric motor 28 through pulley and belt means 30. Within theupper left hand corner of the drum chamber there is provided an electric heater 32, shown diagrammatically, and suitable air inlet holes 34. At the bottom of the drum chamber is an outlet 36 connecting directly to a removable air cooled condenser 38 having vertical tubes extending from the drum chamber downwardly.

A fan 40 driven by the motor 28 draws air through a bottom opening 42 into a chamber 44 and through the opening 46 to the spaces. surrounding the tubes of the condenser 38 and thence discharges the cooling air through an outlet 48 on the opposite side of the condenser 38. The heater 32 and the air flowing from the inlet holes 34 through the outlet 36 remove moisture from the damp clothes in the perforated dryer drum 26 and this moisture condenses Within the tubes of the condenser 38 by the cooling action of the air surrounding the tubes. This moisture drips from the tube of the condenser 38 onto the slanted supporting member 50 which guides the condensed moisture into a collecting pan 52. The supporting member 50 is perforated to permit an induced flow of air through the drum chamber and condenser to the apertures 53 in the wall of the enclosure for the pan 52.

During the rotation of the drum 26 and the drying of the clothes therein, lint is removed from the clothes and becomes air-borne and some circulates to the condenser 38 and is caught from the moisture thereon. The remainder of the lint circulates within the drum chamber. According to my invention I provide electrostatic means for attracting and removing this air-borne lint from the air circulating in the drum chamber.

To do this I provide a pair of spaced rubber tired wheels 54 which are rotatably mounted within the lower right hand corner of the drum chamber in rolling contact with the periphery of the perforated drum 26. Between these wheels along the axis thereof and connected at its opposite ends to the wheels is the stem 56 of a brushtype member. This stem may be made of .wire 'or plastic material or wood and firmly holds bristles 58 which extend radially from the stem in all directions. These 3 bristles however are not long enough to contact the drum 26. 4

These bristles are made of some suitable material capable of creating 'an electrostatic charge when frictionally contacted by another material. Various combinations of materials may be used. However, I prefer to'use bristles of the polyester material known as Orlon or the polyester of ethylene and terephthalic acid known as Mylar or polystyrene. In the path of the tips of the bristles 58 between the wheels 54 I locate astationary rod of glass or rosin. The normal rotation of the drum 26 rotates the wheels .54 and the stem 56 with its bristles 58. The frictional contact of the tips of the bristles 58 with this rod places an electrostatic charge upon the bristles. This electrostatic charge upon the bristles 58 attracts the air-home lint upon the air in the drum chamber and causes this to collect upon the bristles. To remove this lint from the bristles I provide a stationary metal comb 62 having its teeth extending into the bristles at an angle a shown in Figure 1. As shown this comb has its base portion fastened to the wall of the drum chamber directly beneath the glass rod 69 and its teeth extend horizontally into the .bristles. Directly beneath the bristles 58 and the comb 62 is a removable collecting container 64 which is removable through the front wall of the dryer. It is slidably supported upon the shelf support 66.

A the bristles revolve and pass between the teeth of the comb 62 the lint is removed by the metal comb 62 which discharges the static charge upon the bristles to free the lint from the bristles and to allow the lint to fall into the removable container 64.- When the container '64 is filled it may be manually removed and emptied.

In Figure 2 there is shown a laundry dryer which in general is similar to the dryer shown in Figure 1. It includes an insulated cabinet enclosing a drum chamber 122 containing a perforated drum 124. This drum 124 is rotated by an electric motor 128 through pulley and belt means 130. The air within the drum chamber is heated by an electric heater 132. The air enters the drum chamber through the inlet holes 134 and after circulating around the heater and through the drum 12.4 passes through the vertical tubes of the condenser 138 from which condensed moisture is collected in the pan 152. Cooling air is drawn through the air inlet 142 and through the openings 146 and around the tubes of the condenser 138 by the fan 140. The fan 140 is also responsible for drawing air from the drum chamber and through the condenser tubes 138 and the apertures 149 and 151 for providing air circulation within the drum chamber.

Some of the lint removed from the clothes in the drum 124 is caught by the moist surfaces of the tubes of the condenser 138. The remainder of the air-borne lint circulates within the drum chamber 122. In this form of the invention I provide an endless belt 155 mounted upon the upper and lower rollers 157 and 159 within the drum chamber 122. These rollers may be made of rubber or other suitable material. The belt 155 may be made 'of either woven or sheet material. This material is one which will carry an electrostatic charge and will generate an electrostatic charge by friction with another material. Suitable combinations of materials to do this are well known. I prefer to use the polyester known as Orlon 'or the polyester of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid known as Mylar" or polystyrene in combination with a stationary rod 160 of glass or rosin maintained in frictional engagement with the belt by suitable bent flat spring supports 162.

The belt is provided with spaced insulating knobs or ribs'161 of.'an electrical insulating material such as some form 'of rubber. These knobs or ribs extend into contact with the peripheral surface of the drum 124 so that by contact with the drum the belt is caused to move about the'rollers 157 and 159 in the direction indicated by .the arrow. Pieces of glass or rosin rod 160 are pressed by the spring supports 162 into frictional engagement with the material or the belt 155 to place electrostatic charges upon the belt. The air-borne lint is attracted to the belt by electrostatic charges and is held thereon. The lint is removed from the belt by a stationary brush 163 provided with wire bristles which discharge the static charge and brush the lint off the belt into the removable collecting container 164 which is located beneath the brush 163 and the lower rollers 159. filled it may be removed manually through the front of the cabinet and emptied.

In the third form of the invention only the lower portion of the dryer cabinet is shown. The parts not shown are similar to Figures 1 and 2. The cabinet 220 has a rectangular drum chamber 222 containing a rotatable drum. 225. The drum 226 is rotated by the electric motor 225 through the pulley and belt means 230. The cabinet is provided with a condenser 238 and a fan 240 for drawing air through the drum and drum chamber and the condenser 238 and through the apertures 249 and 251 as in Figures 1 and 2. The fan also draws cooling air transversely through the condenser 238 as-in Figures 1 and 2.

According to my invention the drum 226 .is coated with porcelain or other vitreous material. On opposite sides of the condenser 238 there are provided apertures 271 and 273 in the bottom of the drum chamber. Beneath these apertures are slidable removable collecting containers 275 and 277. Above the right side of each of these containers in the direction of rotation are the stationary brushes 279 and 281. The bristles of these brushes may be made of the same material as the bristles 58 in Figure 1 namely Orlon, Mylar or polystyrene. The tips of the bristles of these brushes 279 and 281 extend into contact with the peripheral surface of the drum 226 which may or may not be perforated. The porcelain coating upon the periphery of the drum is similar to glass and the rotation of the drum 226 in contact with the tips of the bristles creates an electrostatic charge upon the surface of the porcelain. The air-borne lint is attracted to this charged surface and as the drum revolves it is brushed oil by the brushes into the removable collecting containers 275 and 277. These containers may be removed and emptied from time to time.

Through the electrostatic means I have provided, lint is prevented from accumulating in the drum chamber of the dryer. The lint may be readily removed from the collecting containers.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A laundry dryer including a cabinet provided with a drum casing, said casing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable drum in said casing, a lint collector within said cabinet outside of said drum casing, connected to said outlet, means for rotating said drum and for circulating air through said inlet and said drum casing and drum and said outlet and said lint collector, means for heating said air, an electrostatic generating means located in said drum casing outside of but adjacent to said rotatable drum for attracting lint, storage means for lint connectedto said drum casing and located in said cabinet, and means for operating said electrostatic means and removing the attracted lint and depositing the attracted lint in said storage means.

2. A laundry dryer including a cabinet provided with a drum casing, said casing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable drum in said casing, a lint collector within said cabinet connected to said outlet, means for rotating said drum and for circulating air vthrough said inlet and said drum casing and said outlet and said lint col lector, means vfor heating said air, an electrostatic gen- When the container 164 is crating means located in said drum casing, storage means for lint connected to said drum casing and located in said cabinet beneath said electrostatic means, said electrostatic means being provided with means for attracting lint and dropping the attracted lint into said storage means, said drum being provided with means for operating said electrostatic means.

3. A laundry dryer including a drum casing, a rotatable drum within said casing adapted to contain laundry to be dried, means for removing vapor from the laundry in said drum, a rotatable brush within said casing, a member of a material capable of generating an electrostatic charge in contacting relationship to the bristles in said brush, said brush having bristles of a complementary electrostatic generating material capable of generating an electrostatic charge when rubbing said member, driving means extending between said drum and said brush for rotating said brush to cause said bristles to brush said member to generate electrostatic charges upon said bristles to attract lint within the dnlm chamber, a relatively stationary metal comb having its teeth extending into said bristles to comb lint off the bristles, and a removable receptacle beneath the comb for collecting the lint combed off the bristles by the comb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,777 Bartholomew July 4, 1916 1,791,574 Pauly Feb. 10, 1931 2,151,273 Hess Mar. 21, 1939 2,282,770 Sarver May 12, 1942 2,357,809 Carlson Sept. 12, 1944 

